Clandestine Radio Watch 064 Extra 2

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CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH
EXTRA March 9, 2001

Notice: This bulletin is copyrighted, therefore, information
contained herein may not be copied, republished or redistributed in
part or in full without full credit given to CRW and appropriate
sources.

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USA: CLANDESTINE RADIO ON THE SHORES OF THE U.S.

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USA: Clandestine Radio on the Shores of the U.S.
By Nick Grace C., CRW Washington Bureau

[Mar 9] Kentucky State Militia Radio (KSMR), CRW has confirmed, is
sponsored by the Kentucky State Militia (KSM) - a group of armed
American patriots who oppose the powers of the federal government.
And with radios all over the world tuned to its frequencies, CRW has
been told that the clandestine radio station is on the verge of
"full operation."

Commander Charlie Puckett, KSM State Representative, reached on
Thursday by e-mail, said that KSMR "is a news station and emergency
communication alternative to the main stream media that has run
amuck!"

"The station," he said "is almost finished and ready for full
operation..."

Broadcasts, he continued, "will be monitored by various people in
our organization for content and professionalism...  It is in our
rules that... (it) not interfere with any other broadcast station in
any way! (KSMR) will be approximately 10KC's from WWFV to accomplish
this goal."

WWFV is a licensed short wave radio station owned and operated by
Dave Frantz.  It is known to relay programming recorded by Christian
religious groups and various militias.

KSMR "is a first amendment station protected by the second
amendment," Puckett said, citing the free speech amendments to the
U.S. Constitution.

According to monitoring reports across the American East Coast, the
station occasionally broadcasts on 3260 and 6890 kHz between 0300
and 0400 UTC with an announced 500 watts.  Regular programming is
scheduled for early January to coincide with a "massive" multi-state
militia meeting in Norm Creek, Kentucky, on April 5.

Denying a report that KSMR broadcast responses on top of a
transmission by WWFV last December, Puckett said "the broadcast...
was in no way related to us. We would never tolerate such
irresponsible behavior."

KSMR, having been confirmed by CRW as operating on behalf of the
Kentucky State Militia, marks the first time in a decade that a
"gray" clandestine radio station has been launched on the shores of
the United States.  While the last gray broadcast, originating from
a Puerto Rican farm in 1990, was aimed at the Cuban government, this
latest station has directed its propaganda against the U.S. federal
government.

It is likely that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which
enforces the radio spectrum in accordance with the Section 301 of
the Communications Act of 1934, will take aim at KSMR.  Without a
solid national monitoring infrastructure, however, playing a game of
cat and mouse with the station will be a challenge for the
government.  The FCC has not "busted" an unlicensed short wave radio
station in nearly five years.

Nevertheless, should the FCC pay a visit to KSMR the question is not
whether the KSM will resume transmissions from another location.
No, the question is whether or not the armed militia group will
defend a station they believe is firmly protected by the U.S.
Constitution.

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